One of the most common procedures, an estimated 50,000 Canadians have their gallbladder's removed each year. Find the right surgeon that fits your needs below, serving Canadians in major cities like Vancouver, British Columbia; Edmonton, Alberta; Toronto, Ontario; and Montréal, Québec.
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Some 2,500,000 Canadians have gallstones (hardened pieces of bile), and 100,000 discover they have them each year. For many these stones go unnoticed or without pain. But for some, these gallstones will result in complications causing painful attacks (bilary colic), infection/inflammation (acute cholecystitis), blocked bile ducts (risking jaundice or pancreatitis), or polyps in the gallbladder.
In these cases, pain and complications may make surgery advisable, in order to remove the source of the stones and inflammation. You liver will still produce bile, but it will flow directly into the intestine.
Ultimately, your surgeon will advise you whether gallbladder removal makes sense, given your unique circumstances.
Private clinics in Canada charge between $7,000 - $12,000.
In the United States, the average cost is CA$15,100.
Costs vary so much because of surgery type, location, surgeon experience, facility type, complexity, and included services (some clinics offer all-inclusive, while others charge separately for anesthesia, followup care, etc.).
You also need to take into account the cost of travel and accommodation when travelling out of province.
No, you do not need a referral for private gallbladder removal in Canada. You can book a consultation directly with a surgeon, and they will review your condition, symptoms, and any previous treatments or diagnostics.
People get their gallbladder removed because of stones or inflammation that cause painful or life-threatening problems. Removing the gallbladder is a reliable fix, and you can generally digest food fine without it.
The surgery itself usually takes 60-90 minutes, but can take longer depending on complications and extent of the underlying problem.
The end result is no more gallbladder, which means no more gallstones. In general, most patients adapt to living without, and are able to eat and live normally.
Your surgeon will provide you with guidance on how to prepare. You can expect instructions on eating and drinking, including that you stop eating or drinking the night before surgery. You will likely be asked to stop eating fatty, greasy food and drinking alcohol, while maintaining a balanced diet with lots of fruits and vegetables.
If you smoke, you will be advised to stop to improve healing outcomes. Depending on your weight, you may be advised to diet and exercise to reduce surgical risks and improve healing outcomes.
Gallbladder removal is common, and considered low risk, but, as with all surgery, carries inherent risks, such as bleeding, infection, blood clots, and anesthesia complications. Bile duct injury is the most serious complication, though it is rare.
Delaying gallbladder removal presents significant risks. In the short term (6-12 months), many patients experience gallstone complications, which can include severe inflammation (acute cholecystitis), rupture, bile duct obstruction, pancreatitis, or sepsis. Complications arising from delay can then lead to more difficult surgeries and longer recovery periods.
The recovery process varies patient to patient. Your recovery might look quite different, so please seek further guidance from your surgeon. In general here is what you can expect:
Week 1:
Weeks 2-4:
Weeks 5-12:
Weeks 13-52:
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